A PBA REFEREE drew amusing reactions online during a recent PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup semifinal game.
In Game 3 between San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum last Friday, referee Rommel Gruta nearly mispronounced the name of Jericho Cruz with ‘Jericho Rosales,’ a popular Filipino actor when he announced that an offensive foul against the Beermen player was upheld during the coach’s challenge
To be fair, Cruz has a Rosales teammate at San Miguel in Kris Rosales.
READ: Scottie triple-double sparks Ginebra's series-tying win over SMB
Since this conference, PBA referees have been tasked to announce the result of the coach’s challenge by themselves.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said the move was done in order for all parties – from the teams, players, and even the fans – to have a better understanding of the call. It is also part of improving the quality of officiating in the league.
“Para alam din ng mga tao kung bakit foul, i-explain mo… Kailangan na talaga matuto ng talaga mga referee (to speak in public),” said Marcial to SPIN.ph on Monday.
Marcial acknowledged that the referees, at first, may not be used to speaking in front of a public audience, so he urged them them to use the language that they are comfortable in.
“’Yung pagsasalita, bago pa lang eh. Sinabi ko sa kanila, kung saan kayo kumportable,” said Marcial.
“Huwag niyo pilitin mag-English. Puwede kayong mag-Taglish. Kung okay kayo sa Tagalog, okay ‘yan. Walang problema sa atin para naiintindihan kayo."
For a couple of seasons now, NBA referees have also explaining the verdict of the coach’s challenge, with Bill Kennedy becoming the most popular among them with the way he eloquently delivers his lines.
WATCH:
Marcial said PBA referees have also been practicing their speaking for the coach’s challenge over the course of the conference.
To lessen mistakes, the PBA commissioner also urged the referees to talk among themselves first before making the announcement on whether the challenge was successful or not.
“Bago kayo sumalang, mag-usap kayo, tingnan niyo sitwasyon, sino na-foul, ano pangalan, magtulungan kayo. Hinga ng malalim, tapos go,” he added.
READ: SOURCES SAY Charles Tiu to Phoenix; TY Tang takes over at Benilde
Marcial said he expects the referees to be better in speaking next conference.
“Ang inaano ko lang, kinakabahan kayo, mali ‘yung nasasabi niyong pangalan, maling team. Simula pa lang eh. Pagkatapos nito (this conference), kailangan matibay na kayo," Marcial stated.
“Nung simula, kahit sa akin, nag-papractice kami, kinakabahan eh. Pero kailangan masanay sila. Kasama sa trabaho ngayon ‘yan,” he added.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
